I love my VB. I feel the body lines look better than previous model when lowered. The engine is a gem from the factory and just gets better with every mod. So much car for the price
Engine-wise, the FA24 is quite a bit better than the EJ257. I still wish it had both Direct and Port injection to keep the valves clean, but that's not particularly common at the moment. The EJ only comes out ahead when you try to tune it beyond what the DI system can handle. Big power still favors the EJ, but the level of tuning most people want to do definitely favors the VB. That said, one thing the VA STI has over the VB WRX is the drive train, and it's not even close. Torque biasing diffs front and rear on the STI whereas the VB only has open diffs. The STI transmission is also substantially stronger. Also, the rod actuated shifter and hydraulic steering are much more communicative and more fun to use. To get the same benefits on the VB, you'd have to swap over STI parts, and that's going to run you around $10k. So, if you want a nice chassis, a better interior, and a better engine. Go with the VB WRX. If you want a bomb-proof drive train, more driver engagement, or have power goals well above 500hp, then go with the STI.
Vb is so much fun. I went with the ETS turbo kit, and even with a conservative tune, this thing rips! Such a fun daily. Now waiting for more supporting mods to release to full send it!
I think the VB is hands down the better choice. Been debating between a 15-21 STI and VB WRX for a while now. From what I’ve read and watched I think the answer is pretty clear.
The tranny is the biggest bottleneck on the platform. You'll want to put an STI tranny in it if you want to go beyond 350hp for the long term. The motor will probably be fine up till 500-600hp
Just traded my 2015 wrx for a premium 2024 wrx…really love the handling and the clutch feels like the accelerator , and the shifts are so much smoother, first aftermarket part will be the Cobb exhaust…then later will be the stage 2 Cobb kit
I just installed the Cobb Stage Two package on my 23 WRX and although I am pro tuning for 91 octane with these mods, the power is significantly better and pulls harder than my 21 STI with over $5k+ in engine mods. I have no regrets trading in my 21 STI for this 23 WRX.
@iron_oddity just a tune for now, some peeps are saying running it full till with e85 are pushin the limits but even e30 still makes more than enough to grenade the transmission 😅
Seems the reasons to get the STI are brakes, suspension, and trans. Sure you can put them all in a vb but costs upwards of 15k assuming brand new parts. But if you’re ok with honestly bad brakes, a solid trans, and a livable suspension vb is the way to go. Plus coil overs aren’t too much and hopefully we get a brembo option for future vb’s we can install on our early model year VBs
@@Craiggg12345 that’s a subjective take. Everything I said were facts. Stop acting on emotion. Also, don’t recall anyone asking your opinion or if the video covered which car looked better
You can get used parts for cheaper and if you buy an STI now then they are all used anyway so that's a wash. You don't need to spend 15k on STI gearbox. However the EJ engine isn't worth me tolerating just to have the better gearbox. VB brakes are much better with better pads and I don't take it to a track because I'm not interested in that. I wouldn't take an STI to a track either l.
I would add that a couple of the reasons to get an sti that you missed is the hydraulic steering system, and LSD’s. The sti also has a raw feel that cars just aren’t made with anymore, it drives just like a sports car from the 90’s.
I had my friend who has way more knowledge on WRX and he said the setup of VB is just a STI with proper setup from factory. We compared his VA WRX to mine and another VA STI. If you can afford it, get the last combustion engine WRX before it goes up in a couple of years if they don’t make a combustion one.
Love my VB Wrx. If it came with the STI trans and drive train, it would be the hands down the best WRX ever sold in the US. Maybe in the future Subaru will offer a "Ts" or performance package for buyers. Until then happy modifying... :)
Loving my '24 premium. All I have on it so far is the Noble Titanium single exit catback. The car definitely looks better in person. Its a great little daily that is a blast to drive even in stock form.
@@carswithsepp I want the stage 2, but don't want to scrap the warranty. My dealership is fine with mods. Even Cobb OTS tunes. I'm just worried that if a possible warranty claim gets elevated to Subaru, I'm screwed
@@carswithsepp yup, speaking to the parts guy and the service head. They said they know people want to mod their cars. One of their top techs has a modified VB. Basically, ots or e-tunes that aren't extreme are ok with exhaust, intake and intercooler mods. Anything more that OTS or E-tunes (pro tunes generally get the most out of mods, but push the limits of drivetrain) would be very iffy
@@steve8803 I don't own a va. I'm an engineer... graphs are sort of my thing. You need to use vertical scales consistently. Your point may be correct, but visually, it's hard to tell. That's all.
@@steve8803 Hey, actually I have a PhD in engineering and 20 years of experience. I was giving you a pointer but clearly you aren’t receptive. Just chill dude, take advice from your elders. I’m sure it’s a good car, although in stock form it will lose in a drag race to a BRZ.
My sti made 322whp 318 tq on a redline intake, grimspeed top mount, Cobb turbo inlet, Cobb bpv, and awe touring catback. About 4k including the accessport if you have no deals or coupons. If I drop another 1800 on the fuel kit I could up the TQ another 40-50 and the whp 20-30 whp. My intial tune was a lil too aggressive due to fuel constraints and we had to dial it down to make a reliable daily.
@@stock.cars.2ned no offense but those numbers are either inflated or your tuner gave you a time bomb tune. We’ve seen people with Vb get numbers like that running intake, jpipe, catback , intercooler and ethanol. If you seriously are making 480 tq right now I really hope you have an sti trans swapped in because that can and will grenade your gear box.
I certainly am and do not have an STI transplant yet. Will be installing Blouch stg2 turbine, arp studs and rods before hopefully hitting 550/550+. 16k miles of daily fun on timebomb tune.
@chewy_paintball That makes a lot of sense. I got lucky with mine. Had 1 owner, well maintained, and all service records promptly. They also had it almost $5k under KBB value and got extended warranty which did come in handy when check engine light came on due to a sticking exhaust valve.
360wtq is gonna be about the limit for those gears and axles but everything should hold up decently if you don’t launch or ffs. Insane jump in power though. Over 100wtq/whp
geesh - these cars seem like a pain. a gti / golf is so much easier to mod to these levels and beyond. hell you don't even need to retune it swapping intakes.
I love my narrowbody hatch with many power and reliability mods but for whatever reason I need a new car, i'd go for the new wrx. They look amazing with some extra paint and aero
I was a dissaffected subaru enthusiasts after decades of subaru milking the ej without ever increasing power or reliability. But the vb has honestly brought me back. Im planning on buying a used 2022 in about a year or two. And hopefully sti trans and brake swapping it eventually.
Just bought a 2023 WRX Premium. I would only mod it under the conditions that 1 it won't void the warranty (lol good luck with that) and 2 that the mod increases dependability and or improves fuel economy.
Here's a genuine driving enthusiast secret. (There is a HUGE difference between car enthusiasts and driving enthusiasts btw) ..90% of car modifications actually make cars worse.
There is one mod I would suggest as a mechanic not Subaru but another, these direct injection motors need a catch can. I honestly have no idea why manufacturers don’t put them on from factory but I’ve seen some nasty stuff happen without them.
Aghhh gran Turismo set the label on the “stage”name sake.. till that VIDEO GAME “stage” wasn’t a thing 😅 Cobb is the name of the game.. but the game.. literally set the standard
You forgot to add that the sti needs a ebcs to control the boost. A lot are sleeping on this platform and waiting for the 2nd generation VB... they will eventually come around and end up saying, "I should have pulled the trigger pre mark up". The cladding is not going anywhere and will be on the next generation WRX.
The sti does not need an ebcs to control the boost. Unless your catless a good tuner can make it work. The ebcs makes it easier and faster for a tuner, but if they know what they are doing and and aren’t lazy there is no issue.
The cladding isn't "THAT BAD" lol. It grows on you, but the best part about the new VB is that the after market love its already getting. Aeroflow and a couple other companies are already offering paint matched front and rear fenders which look NICE.
I hate my 2022 WRX limited, to be fair I made the dumb choice of buying the CVT version. I live in heavy traffic and hills so I don’t see myself driving a manual as a daily. I personally hate manual cars, but I did drive the 6 speed and it’s like a night/day experience. 6 speed is far superior to the cvt.
That's why it's ideal to just have a 2nd car as a daily beater that is better suited for traffic and is more affordable to maintain. When I bought my 05 WRX I was planning on selling my 95 Integra later on. But when I went to get an insurance quote I found that my policy would actually be more affordable keeping the Integra with a multi car discount. I also found that it was more economical to operate the Integra as a daily driver because it runs on regular octane gas, oil changes are half price compared to the WRX and it got better MPGs. When I got my WRX about 13 years ago used it had 60k miles on it. Now it has 136k. And my Integra had about 190k. Now it has 265k. So you can see how many miles and wear and tear I have been able to keep off my WRX. Plus it has come in handy so many times to have a second car when I am working on one of the cars and need to make a parts run or one car is in the shop for something I can't do myself. Or you simply don't have the time or money to get something fixed right away.
I love my VB. I feel the body lines look better than previous model when lowered. The engine is a gem from the factory and just gets better with every mod. So much car for the price
So what this means is the VB has a lot of untapped potential with just a few bolt ons? Nice.
That we've known but the big issue is the tranny will blow long before you can reach it
every car has untapped potential lol
@YerMahMah they most likely mean MORE untapped potential than the previous generation.
Engine-wise, the FA24 is quite a bit better than the EJ257. I still wish it had both Direct and Port injection to keep the valves clean, but that's not particularly common at the moment. The EJ only comes out ahead when you try to tune it beyond what the DI system can handle. Big power still favors the EJ, but the level of tuning most people want to do definitely favors the VB.
That said, one thing the VA STI has over the VB WRX is the drive train, and it's not even close. Torque biasing diffs front and rear on the STI whereas the VB only has open diffs. The STI transmission is also substantially stronger. Also, the rod actuated shifter and hydraulic steering are much more communicative and more fun to use. To get the same benefits on the VB, you'd have to swap over STI parts, and that's going to run you around $10k.
So, if you want a nice chassis, a better interior, and a better engine. Go with the VB WRX. If you want a bomb-proof drive train, more driver engagement, or have power goals well above 500hp, then go with the STI.
Vb is so much fun. I went with the ETS turbo kit, and even with a conservative tune, this thing rips! Such a fun daily. Now waiting for more supporting mods to release to full send it!
I think the VB is hands down the better choice. Been debating between a 15-21 STI and VB WRX for a while now. From what I’ve read and watched I think the answer is pretty clear.
The tranny is the biggest bottleneck on the platform. You'll want to put an STI tranny in it if you want to go beyond 350hp for the long term. The motor will probably be fine up till 500-600hp
I was in same situation as you. I ended up with the WRX.
@@gatesj2538 same here! 22WRX 😂
Great video! I have a 2023 and I love it. Feel like they may even hold their value better with all the info that's come out about them
Just traded my 2015 wrx for a premium 2024 wrx…really love the handling and the clutch feels like the accelerator , and the shifts are so much smoother, first aftermarket part will be the Cobb exhaust…then later will be the stage 2 Cobb kit
I test drove a 2019 STI and a 2023 WRX back to back. I own the WRX. The potential of the new engine is INCREDIBLE and that led me to buy the WRX.
I just installed the Cobb Stage Two package on my 23 WRX and although I am pro tuning for 91 octane with these mods, the power is significantly better and pulls harder than my 21 STI with over $5k+ in engine mods. I have no regrets trading in my 21 STI for this 23 WRX.
Man! Awesome summary and showcase of the VB vs the VA STI... Wow, I hope this turns around some haters! Lol. Earned a subscriber
Had my VB for 2 years so far pushing over 400whp. Definitely best gen
How much did it cost you In mods ?
@@yunalfo1552 AP $500, j pipe $900 protune $250, Perrin top mount $300, intake $0,
Adds no power, but $700 awe catback
@@DylanVBWRX thanks bro , I blows my mind that some people say they spent 20k to make 400 whp.
Can’t say enough good things about your content, keep it up Sepp!
Cool video bro, I almost bought a 2021 sti but glad I got the vb instead. Been almost a year now and the car is a beast on e85.
Thanks man! How much power you got on E85?
🗑️
did you have to buy different parts to run e85 or just tune?
@@Craiggg12345it must suck to always be in last place.
@iron_oddity just a tune for now, some peeps are saying running it full till with e85 are pushin the limits but even e30 still makes more than enough to grenade the transmission 😅
Seems the reasons to get the STI are brakes, suspension, and trans. Sure you can put them all in a vb but costs upwards of 15k assuming brand new parts. But if you’re ok with honestly bad brakes, a solid trans, and a livable suspension vb is the way to go. Plus coil overs aren’t too much and hopefully we get a brembo option for future vb’s we can install on our early model year VBs
Still an ugly car
@@Craiggg12345 that’s a subjective take. Everything I said were facts. Stop acting on emotion. Also, don’t recall anyone asking your opinion or if the video covered which car looked better
@pellet-st6nj thanks for the invite
You can get used parts for cheaper and if you buy an STI now then they are all used anyway so that's a wash.
You don't need to spend 15k on STI gearbox. However the EJ engine isn't worth me tolerating just to have the better gearbox.
VB brakes are much better with better pads and I don't take it to a track because I'm not interested in that. I wouldn't take an STI to a track either l.
I would add that a couple of the reasons to get an sti that you missed is the hydraulic steering system, and LSD’s. The sti also has a raw feel that cars just aren’t made with anymore, it drives just like a sports car from the 90’s.
You put out some great content. Subscribed!
I had my friend who has way more knowledge on WRX and he said the setup of VB is just a STI with proper setup from factory. We compared his VA WRX to mine and another VA STI. If you can afford it, get the last combustion engine WRX before it goes up in a couple of years if they don’t make a combustion one.
Love my VB Wrx. If it came with the STI trans and drive train, it would be the hands down the best WRX ever sold in the US. Maybe in the future Subaru will offer a "Ts" or performance package for buyers. Until then happy modifying... :)
You mean the TR?
put front and rear lsd into it et voila, sti-like car with 3000$, so over 10k in savings over STI.
LOVE MY VB!
This is some GOOD SHIT my brotha keep it up 😎😎
Loving my '24 premium. All I have on it so far is the Noble Titanium single exit catback. The car definitely looks better in person. Its a great little daily that is a blast to drive even in stock form.
Nice man! I’m loving my 24’ as well
@@carswithsepp I want the stage 2, but don't want to scrap the warranty. My dealership is fine with mods. Even Cobb OTS tunes. I'm just worried that if a possible warranty claim gets elevated to Subaru, I'm screwed
@@Silverbulletzx3 oh damn that’s awesome your dealer is cool with the Cobb tune!
@@carswithsepp yup, speaking to the parts guy and the service head. They said they know people want to mod their cars. One of their top techs has a modified VB. Basically, ots or e-tunes that aren't extreme are ok with exhaust, intake and intercooler mods. Anything more that OTS or E-tunes (pro tunes generally get the most out of mods, but push the limits of drivetrain) would be very iffy
@@Silverbulletzx3 I should reach out to my dealer and see what they say. I hope they’d be chill with an access port tune!
looking forward to see how this motor goes.
Nice analysis. Minor criticism: it’s hard to compare the “flatness” of VA versus VB torque curves with the different vertical scales of the graphs
the vb is a significant improvement. If you like your va, great. Good on ya.
@@steve8803 I don't own a va. I'm an engineer... graphs are sort of my thing. You need to use vertical scales consistently. Your point may be correct, but visually, it's hard to tell. That's all.
@@moto_ronto oh the "engineer" cockiness. The VB is an absolute beast. By far the best WRX/STI engine ever.
@@steve8803 Hey, actually I have a PhD in engineering and 20 years of experience. I was giving you a pointer but clearly you aren’t receptive. Just chill dude, take advice from your elders. I’m sure it’s a good car, although in stock form it will lose in a drag race to a BRZ.
@@steve8803dude you are WEIRDLY aggressive and I think you’re sorely misinterpreting what he is saying. Get a grip on yourself, man.
I was sold on a va sti until I started watching vids on the potential of the vb. I’m just going to have to get those paint matched flares for sure 😂
My sti made 322whp 318 tq on a redline intake, grimspeed top mount, Cobb turbo inlet, Cobb bpv, and awe touring catback. About 4k including the accessport if you have no deals or coupons. If I drop another 1800 on the fuel kit I could up the TQ another 40-50 and the whp 20-30 whp. My intial tune was a lil too aggressive due to fuel constraints and we had to dial it down to make a reliable daily.
My 22 VB made 408/480 on an intake and charge pipe.
@@stock.cars.2ned no offense but those numbers are either inflated or your tuner gave you a time bomb tune. We’ve seen people with Vb get numbers like that running intake, jpipe, catback , intercooler and ethanol.
If you seriously are making 480 tq right now I really hope you have an sti trans swapped in because that can and will grenade your gear box.
I certainly am and do not have an STI transplant yet. Will be installing Blouch stg2 turbine, arp studs and rods before hopefully hitting 550/550+.
16k miles of daily fun on timebomb tune.
I made 297/349 on 91oct. But never ran it again after that since my e50 tune made 400+ 🤣
@@stock.cars.2ned wow 480 on e50 is nice, is that the stock fuel pump still?
Great video brother I just subscribed to your channel I hope you get to 1k+ asap because your content is really really good.
Thanks Bro! I’m hopeful! I’m headed to Japan in October to vlog the STI museum and Daikoku PA car meet so stay tuned for more content!!
Won’t own a vb, they might be ok but they just don’t do it for me. I’ll run my va till it’s dead and then start again
Great video! Subscribed!!
My question isn’t whether it’ll make the power, it’s whether it’ll hold together. Time will tell
Still happy with my 2020 WRX STI over this new one.
I loved my 2020 WRX STI, only reason I switched is because the engine blew up.
@@betancourtl How did your engine blow up?
It was a carmax car. Spun a bearing in the first 90 days. Previous owner probably rode it hard and traded it in.
@chewy_paintball That makes a lot of sense. I got lucky with mine. Had 1 owner, well maintained, and all service records promptly. They also had it almost $5k under KBB value and got extended warranty which did come in handy when check engine light came on due to a sticking exhaust valve.
@chewy_paintball I have raced mine a few times and shifted at redline, but mostly I baby it. I never launched
2.4 swap a VA chassis. Best of both worlds
360wtq is gonna be about the limit for those gears and axles but everything should hold up decently if you don’t launch or ffs. Insane jump in power though. Over 100wtq/whp
Thank you for the great video. Definitely subscribed 🫡
Great vid
correct me if im wrong but im pretty sure these are BHP and not WHP numbers, great comparisons tho!
Looks can be overlook if you good in the streets.
geesh - these cars seem like a pain. a gti / golf is so much easier to mod to these levels and beyond. hell you don't even need to retune it swapping intakes.
Well done
I love my narrowbody hatch with many power and reliability mods but for whatever reason I need a new car, i'd go for the new wrx. They look amazing with some extra paint and aero
I was a dissaffected subaru enthusiasts after decades of subaru milking the ej without ever increasing power or reliability. But the vb has honestly brought me back. Im planning on buying a used 2022 in about a year or two. And hopefully sti trans and brake swapping it eventually.
If ithe vb came it a sti version I would’ve trade mine va sti
Just bought a 2023 WRX Premium. I would only mod it under the conditions that 1 it won't void the warranty (lol good luck with that) and 2 that the mod increases dependability and or improves fuel economy.
Here's a genuine driving enthusiast secret. (There is a HUGE difference between car enthusiasts and driving enthusiasts btw)
..90% of car modifications actually make cars worse.
@ianholmquist8492 bingo... ergo I'm not considering any mods.
There is one mod I would suggest as a mechanic not Subaru but another, these direct injection motors need a catch can. I honestly have no idea why manufacturers don’t put them on from factory but I’ve seen some nasty stuff happen without them.
@@ianholmquist8492Depends on what you mean by worse.
Also depends on how much you're willing to spend.
do you need to do stage 1 first in older to start stage 2???? cuz i know some cars are like that. or I can just go with stage 2 with brand new car???
Stage 1 on the vb is a stock car with just there stage 1 tune
I’ll say the same thing I say to all the salty VA owners:
Looks are subjective. Power is objective.
I payed 3 k for the stage 2 on the 2023 vb
how much power r u making?
And pray for the transmission not to go 💣💣💥💥😂😂
Aghhh gran Turismo set the label on the “stage”name sake.. till that VIDEO GAME “stage” wasn’t a thing 😅 Cobb is the name of the game.. but the game.. literally set the standard
You forgot to add that the sti needs a ebcs to control the boost. A lot are sleeping on this platform and waiting for the 2nd generation VB... they will eventually come around and end up saying, "I should have pulled the trigger pre mark up". The cladding is not going anywhere and will be on the next generation WRX.
The sti does not need an ebcs to control the boost. Unless your catless a good tuner can make it work. The ebcs makes it easier and faster for a tuner, but if they know what they are doing and and aren’t lazy there is no issue.
The cladding isn't "THAT BAD" lol. It grows on you, but the best part about the new VB is that the after market love its already getting. Aeroflow and a couple other companies are already offering paint matched front and rear fenders which look NICE.
Forget cobb and get an etune from a proper tuner.
I hate my 2022 WRX limited, to be fair I made the dumb choice of buying the CVT version. I live in heavy traffic and hills so I don’t see myself driving a manual as a daily. I personally hate manual cars, but I did drive the 6 speed and it’s like a night/day experience. 6 speed is far superior to the cvt.
That's why it's ideal to just have a 2nd car as a daily beater that is better suited for traffic and is more affordable to maintain. When I bought my 05 WRX I was planning on selling my 95 Integra later on. But when I went to get an insurance quote I found that my policy would actually be more affordable keeping the Integra with a multi car discount. I also found that it was more economical to operate the Integra as a daily driver because it runs on regular octane gas, oil changes are half price compared to the WRX and it got better MPGs. When I got my WRX about 13 years ago used it had 60k miles on it. Now it has 136k. And my Integra had about 190k. Now it has 265k. So you can see how many miles and wear and tear I have been able to keep off my WRX. Plus it has come in handy so many times to have a second car when I am working on one of the cars and need to make a parts run or one car is in the shop for something I can't do myself. Or you simply don't have the time or money to get something fixed right away.
Are these mods just for manual transmission WRXs?